Tánaiste Micheál Martin heads to Lebanon to meet colleagues of the late Private Seán Rooney

An Tánaiste Micheál Martin has travelled to Lebanon today to meet with colleagues of the late Private Seán Rooney.

Pte Rooney was the Irish peacekeeper who was killed last December in Lebanon, which also resulted in the injury of another trooper, Shane Kearney.

The exact circumstances surrounding his death remains under investigation.

The Fianna Fáil leader will meet members of the 121st Infantry Battalion United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and will be accompanied on the visit by Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen Seán Clancy, and Jacqui McCrum, the most senior civil servant in the Department of Defence.

He will meet with his Lebanese counterparts and he will reiterate the Irish Government’s position that 'all of the facts and circumstances of the incident in which Private Rooney was killed are fully established and that those responsible are brought to justice.'

Speaking ahead of his visit, the Tanáiste said: "It will be an opportunity for me to convey my sympathies and those of the Government to the colleagues of Private Seán Rooney on their loss and to express our heartfelt appreciation as they continue to fulfil their duties with the professionalism and dedication that one associates with the Defence Forces."

As part of his visit, Mr Martin will also meet with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, as well as the Lebanese Minister for Defence.